Fight Series: Part I
The Framework: Building a Sure Foundation
What makes a fight good?
It seems obvious, but just to be clear, we are not talking about brawling or scrapping. Any kind of physical violence or disrespectful discourse is unacceptable. We don’t give it and we don’t receive it.
Previous Threshing Floor topics cover the topic of honouring – you’re invited to follow the link here.
Frame of Reference
One way of looking at what makes a fight good or bad could be this. For any type of fight to be good, everything involved must be for the purpose of either understanding, growth, healing, or restoration. A good fight is by and large different to what we normally think a fight would be. The aim of a good fight is for there to be life and recovery afterwards. A good fight is fighting towards something for the betterment of that thing. Consequently, a bad fight shows disenfranchisement on some level, denigration, and an overall incapacity towards something positive. Even if there is loss involved, a good fight can still deliver growth.
POINT ONE
Surrender
The fighting position that we start from, as a Christ-follower, is surrender to God’s way of doing things.
To surrender first is back-to-front to a fight's usual position. Obviously, that would be admitting defeat. Well, essentially, surrender is admitting defeat of our free will to the Lord Jesus Christ because He has defeated what we are fighting. That's why we surrender to Him. He knows the way He wants us to go and it's usually not the way we plan.
If we’re wanting God’s best we acknowledge He knows our future, He has the purpose, and He holds the power and the sovereignty to get us there. He has the keys to unlock and open every door He wants us to walk through. Our sight is extremely limited and we can’t imagine the good things that He has stored up for us if we follow Him. But to follow Him we have to surrender and trust Him through the journey of the fight. Being open to His guiding through every situation, at every turn, is required even if it means you go against what you feel is fair or comfortable and you’re questioning the ‘why’.
Proverbs 3:6
(GNT) Remember the LORD in everything you do, and he will show you the right way.
(NIV) In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
(CEV) Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.
The scripture story we're looking at for this topic is of King Jehoshophat in 2 Chronicles 20.
Initially, we note, when Jehoshophat was first informed of the huge attack coming his way he was alarmed but he first inquired of the Lord. God responded with an answer and a strategy. He also had an expectation that, because Jehoshophat had inquired, he would follow the instructions.
God said in verse 15: the battle is not yours. However, that didn’t mean they didn’t have to do anything. God told them in verse 17, Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”
The next thing, Jehoshophat received his instructions, and in verses 18 and 19, we see him worshiping and praising God with a very loud voice, the bible says.
POINT TWO
Don’t take the initiative off God
Thanks to Derek Prince for this pearl of wisdom that has helped me so much.
Isaiah 30:21 (CEB)
If you stray to the right or the left, you will hear a word that comes from behind you: “This is the way; walk in it.”
We often see the way we’d like to go but is it where God says to go? Have we inquired of the Lord? Have we read His Word to make sure it’s within His protective boundaries for us? Have we questioned ourselves with our response – Yes? Maybe? No?
To be surrendered means we have our heart devoted to the knowledge of His goodness no matter what, and, with praise, we give Him the right to lead. When we resolve to worship and praise throughout the battle, it’s because we trust Him to hold all the answers and we don’t take back what we first asked Him to help us with.
POINT THREE
Victimhood
We can all at times play the victim. But the victim mentality doesn't overcome. We must learn, eventually, how to fight well.
The thing I’ve discovered about real victimhood is not just that a victim can feel sorry for themselves but that victimhood is entrenched in a spirit of fear or powerlessness.
We all feel sorry for ourselves at times but it passes. It can come from a real place of pain or sadness. But I believe victimhood is a stronghold.
Thankfully, strongholds can be broken, and God, as always, has the antidote.
The bible speaks to this in 2 Timothy 1:7. It has an answer that holds three keys to unlock the control of that spirit.
2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP)
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].
We can choose not to be a victim but if we’re dealing with spiritual bondage we need to confess it as sin, repent from it, and bring it before the Lord to rebuke it from our lives and then ask the Lord to fill us instead with His Spirit of power, love and sound judgment. In doing this, we are confessing God’s right and Lordship over our situation and declaring that we trust Him. From then on, we must determine to walk with a different mindset and speak differently.
Jehoshophat declared his trust in God.
2 Chronicles 20:6 (NIV)
Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.
POINT FOUR
Recognise when to fight and when to rest
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says there is a time for everything.
A few examples in the bible of God providing a fight/rest strategy are:
Joshua. The Israelites walked around the wall of Jericho for seven days in silence. They didn’t cause a ruckus. That usually means obedience. The vibrations that weakened the foundations of the wall was all it took for the wall to crumble on the seventh day. Then they went in and fought.
The things God asks us to do won’t always be understood by those around us.
Queen Esther put on a lavish dinner, building across one relationship while dismantling the other that was set to destroy her people.
Sarah was just as brave. She went into a king’s harem at the request of her husband, preparing herself to weather whatever was about to happen and simply waited it out. Such inner strength! God saw her heart, saved her body and vindicated her position. When I read this story I’m so moved by how indignant God seems on her behalf. He so compellingly shows Himself as her Father and Defender.
Hannah, battling with her husband’s other wife (a practise that was against God’s instruction), continued to throw herself on God’s mercy until her answer came. Her willingness to give and receive from God is my lesson in Hannah’s story.
These stories indicate a resting in God, even while they fought in different ways.
My guest at The THRESHING FLOOR fought an aggressive illness. She had to have a lot of bed rest – but in the resting, her body was also fighting. This is an amazing example of how it’s the same with what God requires of us. We are to rest and fight at the same time!
How did my guest manage that? She shared how she built herself up with scripture and prayed the verses that resonated with her, writing them out and reminding herself and God of His Word.
It's a practise I also implement, and perhaps you do too. It's not just a tool. It's a weapon.
Jehoshophat put His hope and His trust in the Lord.
2 Chronicles 20:9 (NIV)
‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’
Jehoshophat was saying, no matter what happens we will stand in your presence and cry out to you until you come through for us.
We can learn that for our story too. Keep going back to God at each turn and crying out until He gives us instruction or comes through some other way. It isn’t easy when the battle is a long one and appears to be never ending but God wants to train us in war so we walk in His victory of power, love and sound mind.
God wants warriors. God makes us strong while we're right in the fight. It's important we trust Him to turn our weakness into strength.
Hebrews 11:32-34 (NLT)
… It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith .... Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.
POINT FIVE
Damaging Thoughts
Sometimes the biggest battles can be inside our own minds.
2 Corinthians 10:5 (NLV)
We break down every thought and proud thing that puts itself up against the wisdom of God. We take hold of every thought and make it obey Christ.
Relinquish it to God. When you know it’s not right, don’t keep thinking it. When you know it’s leading to a bad place, replace it. Feed your mind with what is positive or powerful, not negative or destructive. Don’t meditate on what-if’s and imagined scenarios. Meditate on God’s word and pray it over your life. Think on all that is worthy (Philippians 4:8-9).
James 4:1-3, 7-8 (NIV)
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives…
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
POINT SIX
Don’t sin in your anger. Take your position and stand in it.
Ephesians 4:26 (The Voice)
When you are angry, don’t let it carry you into sin.[a] Don’t let the sun set with anger in your heart
Watch your responses and your choices.
Sometimes we get into the battles we face because of our own or someone else’s poor choices that are against God’s instructions in the bible. The best way to protect ourselves and others from the damage of fighting badly is to first consider the position of our heart. When we follow God's protocol we don't get into trouble and have regrets.
Lacking nothing
Either way, here’s what we can fall back on: God’s nature lacks nothing, and in our battles His goal for us is that we are made mature and also lack nothing. That is His plan for us. We need to make it our plan too.
James 1:4 (NASB)
And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Here are some reminders for our conduct in arguments:
Remember God’s grace
Romans 12:18 (ESV)
If at all possible, as far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Proverbs 15:1 (NLV)
A gentle answer turns away anger, but a sharp word causes anger.
We have to find out what God is wanting to do when we face any battle. He holds the keys. He holds the answer to the way we should go. If we want the ultimate victory, we remember to seek Him at every step and every turn. God wants us to take ground, not to be defeated. That is our inheritance as, not only His servants, but how much more His family?
Jehoshophat seemed indignant in verse 11, reminding God of their position in Him.
2 Chronicles 20:11 (NIV)
See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance.
What have you learned about your inheritance in God and the position you stand in? What has God promised you? Make your confession and keep confessing it.
Seven
Fight the good fight of the faith
Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
1 Timothy 6:11-12 (NIV)
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith.
Jehoshophat, called on everyone to have faith. This was his standing position. Have faith. Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin (Romans 14:23).
Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Do you know if the position you’re taking is God’s position or your own?
Make sure you find out – the best way to find out is read the bible and find some examples to see how similar or relatable situations might have been handled in the bible and let the Holy Spirit direct your actions and your speech. Go back to our frame of reference in the beginning and consider.
You might ask, how do I get more faith?
Romans 12:3 God has given us all a measure of faith.
Romans 10:17 Faith comes by hearing the Word of God preached.
What else can we consider in the fight of faith?
We can't fight without God's armour, His covering for our frailty and fallibility. Read Ephesians 6.
This is how I've been reflecting on the armour. You'll notice how each piece overlaps each other in different ways.
It includes the belt of truth (His knowledge to strengthen our spiritual core, to keep our body upright), breastplate of righteousness (to protect our heart), helmet of salvation (to protect our mind, our thoughts and attitudes, to help our choices with soundness of mind, and give us peace), shoes of the gospel of peace (directing our steps, fulfilling our purpose), shield of faith and sword of the Spirit/Word of God (Spirit and Truth, giving us discernment) together with prayer (confession of faith). After you've clothed yourself in this sound armour (body, heart, mind, spirit, truth, purpose, faith), remain standing.
Ephesians 6:13 (BSB)
Therefore take up the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.
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